Kent Cricket and Canterbury have a relationship going all the way back to 'the club'’s founding in 1842. Initially, the original Kent County Cricket Club played at The Beverley Ground in Canterbury near Sturry Road. In 1847, the club moved to a site in the south of the city which became The Spitfire Ground, St. Lawrence and remains there today as Kent Cricket’s main ground. In 1870, Canterbury's Kent side merged with a Maidstone based Kent side to form today's County Cricket Club.

Canterbury has hosted Canterbury Cricket Week, the oldest cricket festival in England, since 1842. An important date in Canterbury’s social calendar, traditionally Canterbury Cricket Week would draw thousands of spectators and has many traditions including a Ladies Day during the week. The tradition continues to this day and Kent Cricket welcomes Sussex Sharks (T20), Hampshire (T20) the West Indies national side (3-day tour match) and England U19s who will play India U19s (One Day) between the 4th & 11th of August to what will be the 166th Cricket Week to date.